"Lord Swift Flash isn't here yet. If you want to join the training camp, just wait here," said A-Class Rank 8, Death Gatling, in a cold tone. He didn't particularly have a problem with Sweet Mask, but the guy's smug attitude really rubbed people the wrong way.
"He's late? Someone like that doesn't deserve to be an S-Class hero, not even an A-Class one! What, is he going to be late when a disaster strikes too?!" Sweet Mask's handsome face contorted with anger. In his mind, a hero had to be perfect—or at least strive for perfection.
It was one thing if the person in question were some no-name hero. But for an S-Class hero like Swift Flash Flash to be completely lacking in self-awareness was an embarrassment to the title.
"You're going too far! Lord Swift Flash became an S-Class hero because of his strength and achievements! It's not your place, even as A-Class Rank 1, to judge his worthiness!" Lily stepped forward once again. Even though she hadn't known Kizaru for long, his decision to step up and save City A during the crisis and to start a hero training camp left a deep impression on her.
To defend Kizaru's reputation—even against the A-Class hero she once admired—Lily didn't hesitate to speak out.
Bang!
Before Lily could even react, Sweet Mask closed the distance of dozens of meters in an instant, grabbed her by the neck, and slammed her against the training camp's main gate.
"Another self-important woman. You think I stayed at A-Class Rank 1 for no reason?"
Sweet Mask frowned slightly, loosening his grip just enough to avoid killing her. Though he was doing his best to control his emotions, his increasingly extreme personality made even him uneasy.
"You bastard! Let Lily go!"
Seeing Lily attacked, Eyelash and Mountain Ape—B-Class Rank 2 and 3 respectively—lunged forward without hesitation.
Though their high ranks were partially thanks to Fubuki Group's influence, their strength was genuinely among the best in B-Class. Together, they could just about hold their own against lower-ranked A-Class heroes.
Boom! Boom!
Unfortunately, before they even reached him, Sweet Mask delivered two lightning-fast kicks, sending both of them flying.
Former Fubuki Group member "Glasses," who had just rushed out of the crowd, was bowled over by the airborne Eyelash and Mountain Ape.
Seeing this, even the A-Class heroes who'd thought about stepping in decided to cool their heads a little.
"Don't act recklessly. That guy's just trying to make a show of strength. He's not actually going to hurt the girl…" Magic Hands whispered, holding Blue Flame back. He didn't want to see his friend get beat down for nothing.
It was a well-known fact within the Hero Association that Sweet Mask possessed strength rivaling the S-Class heroes. Forget the Fubuki Group—even if every hero present joined forces, they likely still wouldn't be able to defeat him.
That was why the Hero Association tolerated his frequent outbursts. As long as they needed his power, they would turn a blind eye to his behavior.
"Listen up, all of you! I'll say it again—I stayed at A-Class Rank 1 so that trash who overestimates themselves can't make it into the S-Class! Trash needs to know their place! This so-called training camp is nothing but a scam—"
Before Sweet Mask could finish his sentence, a crescent-shaped flying slash tore through the air at incredible speed, slicing clean through the arm he was using to hold Lily and cutting the reinforced iron gate behind her in half.
"Rankyaku: Moonlight."
Once the iron gate fell, only then did everyone hear a voice from midair.
Kizaru, now wearing a floral shirt and beach shorts, was descending from the sky while carrying Fubuki in his arms.
As soon as they landed, Fubuki quickly ran toward Lily, while Sweet Mask, ignoring his severed arm, locked his eyes on the man he had been obsessing over for days.
"S-Class Rank 9, Swift Flash?"
Sweet Mask's expression shifted from anger to solemn seriousness.
Kizaru's display of strength had exceeded his expectations. That wind blade, moving at such speed—even if he were fully focused, he might not have been able to dodge it. As expected of someone called "Swift Flash."
"What do you want?"
Kizaru asked lazily, with not a shred of S-Class hero dignity in his tone.
Had they not just witnessed him sever Sweet Mask's arm, no one would've guessed how dangerous Kizaru truly was.
"So that's the new S-Class guy? He's tall…"
"Seems like a powerful one. But Sweet Mask isn't a pushover either."
"You think they'll fight? I still want to attend the training camp…"
The surrounding heroes eyed Kizaru and Sweet Mask with growing tension. No one quite knew what to do if a fight broke out between two heroes of this caliber.
Although Sweet Mask was officially A-Class Rank 1, no one doubted that his power rivaled S-Class heroes.
"I want you to give up your S-Class title and return to A-Class. I'm willing to vouch for you to be promoted directly to A-Class Rank 2. As long as you pass my test, you can re-enter the S-Class."
Sweet Mask had realized that Kizaru likely did possess true S-Class power. His original plan—to publicly prove Kizaru was unworthy—would have to change.
Now, he could only hope that Swift Flash would understand his intent and voluntarily relinquish the S-Class title. Otherwise, if people started skipping over him straight into the S-Class, it would disgrace the honor of the entire rank.
"Tch… must be because it's daytime that you're daydreaming so hard. That's not a good habit."
Kizaru chuckled mockingly. Aside from the repugnant Celestial Dragons, he had never met someone as full of themselves as Sweet Mask.
Maybe Sweet Mask's intent had some merit—but who was he to decide who was or wasn't worthy of being S-Class?
At least the Hero Association judged based on strength and accomplishments. Sweet Mask's criteria were purely subjective, with no measurable standard whatsoever.
"If you won't agree… then don't blame me for being rude."
Sweet Mask, now holding the severed arm his assistant had retrieved, simply reattached it—instantly restoring it to full function.
His astonishing regenerative ability was one of Sweet Mask's trademarks. Losing an arm or a leg barely affected his combat power at all.
"You're welcome to try."
Before Kizaru even finished speaking, the ground beneath Sweet Mask exploded, and a lightning-fast figure rocketed forward.
Incredible speed, overwhelming power, and near-inhuman recovery—this was the power that let Sweet Mask dominate A-Class Rank 1!
"So fast!"
Sharpstar, who had nearly fought with Mountain Ape earlier, couldn't help but exclaim. The speed that left behind afterimages—was that even humanly possible?
Boom!
Sweet Mask's punch pierced straight through Kizaru's "body," shattering the short wall behind him into dust.
But in the very next instant, Kizaru reappeared behind Sweet Mask, casually gripping the back of his neck, ready to slam him into the ground.
"Haaah!"
Feeling the grip on his neck, Sweet Mask reacted instantly, unleashing a whip-kick from an angle that defied human anatomy.
"Rubber man?"
But even as the kick came, Kizaru's voice reached his ears—as if he had already seen it coming.
Before Sweet Mask's kick could land, Kizaru's hand clamped down with brutal force and, in a flash, smashed Sweet Mask straight into the ground.
Boom!
The concrete cracked in a web-like pattern, and Sweet Mask's head was driven deep into the earth, like a rice seedling being planted upside-down.
In just a flash, the once-unshakable Sweet Mask was taken down by Kizaru in what could only be described as a near-instant defeat.
"Amazing! Swift Flash-senpai!"
Before the others could react, a tall, high-ponytailed girl in a competitive swimsuit, her body brimming with muscle, shouted excitedly.
She only glanced at the heroes before looking away. She was Captain Mizuki, B-Class Rank 71—a rising star the Hero Association was heavily promoting this year. Rumor had it she had the potential to reach S-Class.
"He actually took down Sweet Mask that quickly… No wonder he's S-Class!"
Magician Hands, who had always harbored doubts about Kizaru, couldn't help but marvel. Any top-ranking A-Class hero hoping for S-Class promotion had likely suffered at Sweet Mask's hands at some point.
That guy, under the guise of "keeping weaklings out of S-Class," had constantly targeted those with promotion potential.
"So strong!"
Glasses, now independent from the Blizzard Group, stood in the crowd, gazing at Kizaru with admiration.
He had left the Blizzard Group hoping that the pressure of going solo would push him to grow stronger.
Even after working hard for so long, he hadn't made significant gains in strength. The only progress he could claim was that he now had the courage to stand up to monsters stronger than himself.
Unfortunately, that kind of courage didn't count for much. When he saw Lily being attacked by Sweet Mask, he had wanted to help her—but in the end, he wasn't even as capable as Eyelashes or Mountain Ape.
"Is Lily okay?"
Kizaru walked up to Blizzard, who was helping support Lily. Aside from the hand-shaped bruise on her neck from Sweet Mask, Lily was largely unharmed.
"I'm fine… but Lord Kizaru, that guy…"
Lily swallowed nervously. Sweet Mask's entire head had been slammed into the ground, and the impact had shaken the earth itself.
Such a brutal blow—unless his skull was made of steel—should have smashed it to pieces, right?
"Relax. He's still A-Class Rank 1, after all. Didn't you notice? You're the only one worried about him."
Kizaru spoke casually. With his Observation Haki, he could sense that Sweet Mask's life force was still very much active—almost on par with a cockroach.
Still, something about the guy felt eerily similar to Vaccine Man. Was he possibly a monster in disguise?
"There's nothing to worry about. Even if Sweet Mask had died, we could file a complaint with the Association. Don't forget—it was him who attacked you first!"
Maybe she was tired of always being the "big sister." Blizzard had always treated Lily like her own little sister. Seeing her almost strangled to death had ignited an uncontrollable rage inside her.
"Lady Blizzard, Lord Swift Flash… we're sorry. We failed to protect Lily…"
Eyelashes and Mountain Ape approached, full of guilt. If Kizaru hadn't shown up in time, who knew what would've happened to Lily?
"Lady Blizzard, long time no see…"
Glasses hesitated for a long moment but eventually mustered the courage to approach and greet Blizzard.
Out of the 31 members who had joined the Blizzard Group, he was the first to voluntarily leave.
If he'd gone on to achieve great success, that would've been one thing—but as it turned out, he wasn't doing as well as he had when he was still in the group.
"Mm, I've heard about your recent performance. You didn't bring shame to the Blizzard Group. If you ever want to return, just let Eyelashes know."
Blizzard didn't see him as a traitor like some others might have. Instead, she acknowledged his efforts and achievements since leaving.
"We meet again, Lord Swift Flash… I'm sorry I didn't step forward just now."
Blue Flame had actually been ready to act earlier, but his friend held him back. Still, he didn't make excuses—his character wouldn't allow him to claim credit for something he didn't do.
"Lord Swift Flash, it was me who stopped him. If anyone deserves blame, it's me."
Seeing his friend take the initiative to apologize, Magician Hands quickly stepped forward, even at the risk of offending Kizaru, to defend Blue Flame.
"Relax. I don't hold it against you. If it were a monster attacking instead, I believe you wouldn't have stood by and done nothing."
Kizaru spoke calmly. Unlike Sakazuki, who would execute deserters on the spot, Kizaru always believed that authority determined duty.
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